Martyrs, died Agaunum (now Saint Maurice), Switzerland c.286. Maurice is the patron of many places in Switzerland, Piedmont, France, and Germany; of soldiers, the Swiss Guard of the Pope; swordsmiths, and dyers; he is invoked against gout and cramps. Represented as a knight full armor, bearing a standard and a palm; in Italian art he is portrayed with a red cross on his breast, and this has become the badge of the Sardinian Order of Saint Maurice. Relics at Magdeburg. Feast, Roman Calendar, 22 September. See also, patron saints index.